Sophomore middle blocker Katie Lowry tallied 21 points and seven blocks over two games on Friday as the Warriors claimed two wins in pool play at the Roberts Wesleyan Tournament in Rochester, New York.

The Warriors swept Shippensburg (Penn.) in their first match of the tournament with scores of 30-25, 30-23, 31-29. Westmont also won in three games against Daeman (N.Y.) with scores of 30-18, 30-25, 31-29.

The wins are career victories number 200 and 201 for head coach Jim Smoot, with 166 of those wins coming at Westmont. His career record as a collegiate women’s volleyball coach currently stands at 201-164 (.551) including a Westmont record of 166-117 (.587)

Two things will be immediately obvious when Westmont Volleyball takes the floor for the 2007 campaign. First, last year’s roster of 16 players has been slimmed down to just 12. Second, ten of those players will be bringing experience to the 2007 version of Warrior Volleyball.

“We got a lot of new talent last year and a lot of height,” said senior team co-captain Katie Pace. “I am hoping to build on the experience that all the new girls gained so that we can progress to gain consistency and competitiveness.”

The Warrior squad is looking to turn around a program that finished just 7-17 last season. The challenge will be to do so as a member of the powerful Golden State Athletic Conference, six of whose members were ranked in the top 15 at season’s end.

Westmont volleyball honored three seniors before the game as the Warriors brought the 2006 season to a conclusion on Saturday evening at Murchison Gymnasium.

“I didn’t think I’d be as emotional as I am,” admitted senior setter Leslie Carroll. “It’s all over. This is probably the last competitive game I’ll ever play.”

Westmont ended the season with a tough match against the NAIA’s fourth ranked team, California Baptist (26-6, 16-4). Despite playing with passion, the Warriors were defeated in three games (30-23, 30-17, 30-37).

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Sophomore Laura Trudelle and senior Kelsey Voetmann connected for 11 kills each as Westmont volleyball (7-16, 5-14) fell to #13 Azusa Pacific in straight games Tuesday night at Murchison Gymnasium. Game scores were 30-16, 30-26, 30-25.

The Warriors struggled in game one, committing as many hitting errors as they had kills and the Cougars cruised to an easy victory.

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Westmont volleyball had hoped to take clear possession of seventh place in the Golden State Athletic Conference when they hosted Vanguard this afternoon at Murchison Gymnasium. The two teams entered the contest with an identical 5-10 conference record and battling over what is probably the last entry into the NAIA Region II Playoffs. But the Lions of Vanguard posted a .322 hitting percentage and tallied 10 team blocks to claim a 3-0 win over the Warriors (30-21, 30-25, 30-18).

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For the third time this season, Malinda Reese of San Carlos has been named the Golden State Athletic Conference Libero of the Week. In matches against San Diego Christian and #11 Point Loma Nazarene, Reese tallied 67 serve receptions and 47 digs.

Reese was also named GSAC Libero of the Week on September 5 and September 19.

The junior already sits atop the Westmont career dig list by having kept the ball from hitting the floor 1,537 times. Her 1,906 career serve receptions is also a Warriors best. In addition, Reese owns the top six records for digs in a single game including a career best 44 set last year.

The Warriors of Westmont (7-11, 5-9) won one and lost one in San Diego this weekend as the Warriors defeated San Diego Christian (1-16, 0-14) in five games on Friday and lost to #11 Point Loma Nazarene (17-5, 9-5) in three straight games on Saturday.

In Friday’s game, sophomore Laura Trudelle produced 21 kills and a .349 attack percentage to lead the Warriors. She also recorded 20 digs and 30 serve receptions. Senior Kelsey Voetmann and freshman Jenise DeBie added 11 kills each to the Warrior cause. The Warriors tallied seven and one-half team blocks with sophomore Katie Sharp leading the way with four block assists and one solo block.

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Senior outside hitter Kelsey Voetmann had 17 kills and an attack percentage of .483 to lead the Westmont volleyball team to a three game sweep over Hope International (7-17, 2-12) at Murchison Gymnasium on Saturday evening. The win broke a four game losing streak, all against top-ten ranked teams, and avenged an earlier loss to the Royals in Fullerton.

“I am really pleased with the way we played,” said Head Coach Jim Smoot. “I thought this was one of the first times we actually played in the same manner in which we practice – very intense, very focused and everyone executing.”

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